So far, Not impressed with my new EuroReef
- Thread starter JeremyR
- Start date
Paul, I know how you feel. I did alot of work in searching for a new skimmer myself. I was looking at Euroreef and ETSS. I went with the ETSS because I got a good deal. I had a seaclone and I was like you expecting wonders. I started thinking that it wasn't that bad. Well in a few days it was pulling alot of gunk. Give it some time.......
Thanks for the replies. I will be patient and see how it goes.
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Paul your skimmer is just breaking in. My AquaC took 4 days before it started producing ANY foam, a week before it started pulling out junk, and about two weeks to reach maximum potential. Just be patient. I'm sure that in a couple weeks, you will be raving about it.
I too just installed a Euro-reef CS8-3 on my 75 to replace my turboflotor HOT model. Mine did nothing for the first 4-5 days, now it pulls out nice black foam, but not much more then the turboflotor did. I havent cleaned it in 3 days now and it only has about 1/4" of waste in it. I also feed twice daily so expected more, maybe too much. What model did you get, what size tank and bioload do you have?
i'm not sure i buy the idea of skimmers 'breaking in,' unless it relates to buildup of residue on the inner surface of the reaction chamber.
afaik, skimmers work by a principle called "foam fractionation" wherein organic particles are caught up in a surface-tension layer at an air-water interface.. and the skimmers work because the large number of small bubbles have a high interface area.
when the bubbles on the top of the column break, their water (already high in organic content) becomes part of the water in the bubbles below...
thereby increasing the organic content of the water until it's nasty, and hopefully spills over into the cup, if things are tuned properly.
so, where in this process would 'breaking in' have a role? what is there to break in? the pump? the venturi?
the only thing i can think of is that when new, the inner surface of the reaction chamber is clean and perfectly smooth. after even a few hours of operation, there's deposits there.
anyhow, my skimmer is a DAS-BX2, and it replaced a small HOB Sealife Systems (RIO 600 driven) on my 75....
it was pulling gunk (probably a strong bourbon and water
within minutes. in fact, after i clean it, it works just as well as it did before, and does not require a new 'break in' period.
so.... wha'as up with this breakin business?
of course, there's only anecdotal evidence either way.
afaik, skimmers work by a principle called "foam fractionation" wherein organic particles are caught up in a surface-tension layer at an air-water interface.. and the skimmers work because the large number of small bubbles have a high interface area.
when the bubbles on the top of the column break, their water (already high in organic content) becomes part of the water in the bubbles below...
thereby increasing the organic content of the water until it's nasty, and hopefully spills over into the cup, if things are tuned properly.
so, where in this process would 'breaking in' have a role? what is there to break in? the pump? the venturi?
the only thing i can think of is that when new, the inner surface of the reaction chamber is clean and perfectly smooth. after even a few hours of operation, there's deposits there.
anyhow, my skimmer is a DAS-BX2, and it replaced a small HOB Sealife Systems (RIO 600 driven) on my 75....
it was pulling gunk (probably a strong bourbon and water
so.... wha'as up with this breakin business?
of course, there's only anecdotal evidence either way.
I don't know exactly why skimmers need time to begin pulling out gunk but it probably has to do with the fact that it is so clean and no organics are deposited on the inside surfaces. Once coated it allows the remaining organics to continue to rise up and into the collection cup. Also is there anything in the skimmer that could change the affinity of the polar organic compounds to air and make it more difficult for the stuff to stick to the bubbles? Once the contaminants are gone things work better.
I agree it does not make sense to me either with my physics background but like I said, maybe there is something else chemically going on that we are not measuring or can't see. Either way I can't deny that with every skimmer that I have set up it takes a while to get it pulling out stuff and once it does it is very consistent.
Jeff
I agree it does not make sense to me either with my physics background but like I said, maybe there is something else chemically going on that we are not measuring or can't see. Either way I can't deny that with every skimmer that I have set up it takes a while to get it pulling out stuff and once it does it is very consistent.
Jeff
I finally replaced my aging, 7 year old Red Sea Berlin classic. I actually started shopping for a new skimmer almost 3 years ago and originally set focus on a DAS BX-2. However, retailers suddenly stopped carrying them and a red light went up. So a new search began and the EuroReef became the new top runner.
Well, it arrived this week and has been installed for slightly over 36 hours. It is a very well made skimmer and installed in minutes. It creates an extremely thick bubble column of very tiny bubbles. It runs quietly. But it is not the construction or the immediate design that I question.
Everyone here knows the Red Sea Berlin classic is a below average skimmer (at best), just do a search and you will discover this. So based on this "reputation" I whole heartedly expected within minutes of installation, the EuroReef would be going nuts pulling out all the organics that the Berlin has missed during its 7 years of operation. So immediatly after plugging the EuroReef in, I sat and watched knowing I would have to dump the collection cup quickly or suffer the mess of a nasty brown overflow going onto the wifes off white carpet.
Well, after 20 minutes of operation, it appeared the carpet was safe so off I trotted to spent time with my two small kids. Over the next 18 hours, I checked the skimmer every 30 minutes or so, even got up 4 times in the middle of the night. Much to my surprise, the EuroReef was not pulling anything of measure out of the water.
Now, 36 hours later it is still just barely pulling anything out. The liquid that has made it to the collection cup is mildly dirty about the colour of a watered down glass of ginger ale. (Or as I prefer to describe it, a very weak bourbon and water). The foam that rises to the top of the column is very white, not dirty at all. I have attempted change a few things. I raised the water in the sump, I raised the riser tube on the skimmer, but no changes.
So I sit patiently hoping the investment was not wasted and wonder if the old Berlin sitting in the sink is not as bad as they say.....
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Well, it arrived this week and has been installed for slightly over 36 hours. It is a very well made skimmer and installed in minutes. It creates an extremely thick bubble column of very tiny bubbles. It runs quietly. But it is not the construction or the immediate design that I question.
Everyone here knows the Red Sea Berlin classic is a below average skimmer (at best), just do a search and you will discover this. So based on this "reputation" I whole heartedly expected within minutes of installation, the EuroReef would be going nuts pulling out all the organics that the Berlin has missed during its 7 years of operation. So immediatly after plugging the EuroReef in, I sat and watched knowing I would have to dump the collection cup quickly or suffer the mess of a nasty brown overflow going onto the wifes off white carpet.
Well, after 20 minutes of operation, it appeared the carpet was safe so off I trotted to spent time with my two small kids. Over the next 18 hours, I checked the skimmer every 30 minutes or so, even got up 4 times in the middle of the night. Much to my surprise, the EuroReef was not pulling anything of measure out of the water.
Now, 36 hours later it is still just barely pulling anything out. The liquid that has made it to the collection cup is mildly dirty about the colour of a watered down glass of ginger ale. (Or as I prefer to describe it, a very weak bourbon and water). The foam that rises to the top of the column is very white, not dirty at all. I have attempted change a few things. I raised the water in the sump, I raised the riser tube on the skimmer, but no changes.
So I sit patiently hoping the investment was not wasted and wonder if the old Berlin sitting in the sink is not as bad as they say.....
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I got a new beckett skimmer to replace my other one, that Ididnt really like.
it skimmed in 8 hours, due to the fact I might have 'cheated'
I took the skimmate, etc out of my old skimmer, rubbed it all over inside of the new skimmer, and wiped it down a bit - I dont know if this contriubted to the fast break in
it skimmed in 8 hours, due to the fact I might have 'cheated'
I took the skimmate, etc out of my old skimmer, rubbed it all over inside of the new skimmer, and wiped it down a bit - I dont know if this contriubted to the fast break in
Paul,
I installed a CS6-3 on my 150 reef about 3-4 months ago. It took about a week for the skimmer to "break in"... I have used 5 skimmers and seen many more in action in my 17 years in this hobby. The Euro-reef is by far the best skimmer I have ever used\seen......
Mark
I installed a CS6-3 on my 150 reef about 3-4 months ago. It took about a week for the skimmer to "break in"... I have used 5 skimmers and seen many more in action in my 17 years in this hobby. The Euro-reef is by far the best skimmer I have ever used\seen......
Mark
Thanks for all the replies. The skimmer is a CS6-2 and is on a 120 gallon tank. THe tank has a very light fish load, but a very heavy coral load.
When I got home last night, the skimmer definitly looked better. This was around the 48 hour mark. The foam was now reaching the collection cup, was a darker colour, and was much much dryer and thicker. I echo most of the replies above. It just takes time for the organics to build on top of the reaction chamber. Call it what you will, but break-in seems to apply best.
My immediate concern was again comparing to the Berlin. This break-in om the berlin happened very quickly where the dark,dry skimmate reached the top in a mere 45 minutes. But this may have to do with the reaction chamber being only a inch or two in diameter vs 4 - 6 inches. It may not have taken as long for the smaller surface area to become littered with organics thus holding a harder dryer foam.
Ben - I need to play with the output tube some. I will take your suggestion and lower it.
Desktop - It is a Sedra
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When I got home last night, the skimmer definitly looked better. This was around the 48 hour mark. The foam was now reaching the collection cup, was a darker colour, and was much much dryer and thicker. I echo most of the replies above. It just takes time for the organics to build on top of the reaction chamber. Call it what you will, but break-in seems to apply best.
My immediate concern was again comparing to the Berlin. This break-in om the berlin happened very quickly where the dark,dry skimmate reached the top in a mere 45 minutes. But this may have to do with the reaction chamber being only a inch or two in diameter vs 4 - 6 inches. It may not have taken as long for the smaller surface area to become littered with organics thus holding a harder dryer foam.
Ben - I need to play with the output tube some. I will take your suggestion and lower it.
Desktop - It is a Sedra
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Howdy,
From what I have read, heard, and seen, the break-in period is based on the fact the new skimmers have oils on them that are leftover from the manufacturying process. I think it is similar to how the skimmer stops skimming when you introduce oils (food, skin oils, etc...) into your tank.
My AquaC Remora Pro and EV150 took several days to really start skimming. My Euroreef CS6-3 took 2 days before it skimmed.
I wouldn't dismis the idea of break-in, especially since alomost every person with a new skimmer reports such a phenomenom. Heck, even the manufacturers tell you that the skimmer takes time to break-in.
Give a few days, the Euroreef will kick butt.
Scott.
From what I have read, heard, and seen, the break-in period is based on the fact the new skimmers have oils on them that are leftover from the manufacturying process. I think it is similar to how the skimmer stops skimming when you introduce oils (food, skin oils, etc...) into your tank.
My AquaC Remora Pro and EV150 took several days to really start skimming. My Euroreef CS6-3 took 2 days before it skimmed.
I wouldn't dismis the idea of break-in, especially since alomost every person with a new skimmer reports such a phenomenom. Heck, even the manufacturers tell you that the skimmer takes time to break-in.
Give a few days, the Euroreef will kick butt.
Scott.
When I put my hand in the water, the skimmer instantly stops foaming. I think a similar phenomenon happens when you place a new skimmer in the tank, except to a larger extent. Must be from the residues on the skimmer walls from the manufacturing process.
In addition, I believe the water inside the skimmer has to have a higher concentration of organics in order to get the dry foam. Therefore, it seems reasonable to me, that when a new skimmer is placed into a tank, it takes a few days for the concentration of organics to buildup in the skimmer column. I have noticed with my skimmer that whenever I take it out and drain it completely for a cleaning, it takes a few days before it starts skimming again. Larger skimmers have a longer breakin period because of the larger volume of water they hold. Just my crackpot theories...
danny
In addition, I believe the water inside the skimmer has to have a higher concentration of organics in order to get the dry foam. Therefore, it seems reasonable to me, that when a new skimmer is placed into a tank, it takes a few days for the concentration of organics to buildup in the skimmer column. I have noticed with my skimmer that whenever I take it out and drain it completely for a cleaning, it takes a few days before it starts skimming again. Larger skimmers have a longer breakin period because of the larger volume of water they hold. Just my crackpot theories...
danny
I adjust my sump ,, so that the water is just above the plastic tube going from the sedra to the tower,,(u did get a sedra?)and it is the best skimmer i have had,,dark skimulate,not waterey or wet,,mine workedright out of the box,,like a charm also make sure the inlet is pulled away from your sump wall,ass this will impede flow,(sometimes mine works its way close to the wall)
[ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: desktopsilver ]</p>
[ January 18, 2002: Message edited by: desktopsilver ]</p>
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